Marine harvester with compressor means



Nov. 22, 1966 M. E. GRINWALD MARINE HARVESTER WITH COMPRESSOR MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 1, 1961 INVENTOR.

MATHIAS E. GRlNWALD A r roe/YE Y! N0V- 22, 1966 M. E. GRlNwALD MARINE HARVESTER WITH COMPRESSOR MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1, 1961 INVENTOR.

MATHAS E.GRINWALD m, JM v MAL/Z4 A 7- ToeNE V5 Nov. 22, 1966 M. E. GRINWALD MARINE HARVESTER WITH COMPRESSOR MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet ."5

Filed June 1, 1961 INVENTOR.

MATHIAS E.GRINWALD AT rafa/ve v5 NOV- 22, 1965 M. E. GRINWALD 3,286,447

MARINE HARVESTER WITH COMPRESSOR MEANS Filed June 1, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

MATHIAS E .GRINWALD BY Wim/MNM Arroz/Me United States Patent Oce 3,286,447 MARINE HARVESTER WITH COMPRESSOR MEANS Mathias E. Grinwald, Hartland, Wis., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Aquatic Controls Corporation, Hartland, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed June 1, 1961, Ser. No. 114,105 6 Claims.V (Cl. 56-9) This invention relates to improvements in machines for harvesting and baling underwater plant life and weeds.

In many lakesunderwater weeds and plant life grow so profusely that they render the lakes unusable for boating and swimming. This condition is particularly troublesome in shallow lakes and in the shallow portions of deeper lakes. At some seasons the weeds break loose and float on the surface of the water forming heavy floating masses which make navigation impossible. At the same time, it is diflicult and-expensive to attempt to dispose of these weeds. The object of this invention is to provide a machine to strip weeds from the bottom of the like, gather them, compress them, and unload them either to the shore of the lake or to a barge. There they may be converted into feed orlfertilizer, r otherwise disposed of. It is a further object to provide such a device which may be handled by a small crew.

The invention consists of a hull lpropelled by side paddle wheels which may be independently controlled, as described in my Patent 2,488,275. One end of the hull is provided with a cutter and a sloping pair of gathering conveyor screens revolving toward each other to feed the weeds onto a longitudinal conveyor. From the conveyor the weeds move into a compactor and then are carried to a hydraulically operated dump platform supported on a lost motion pivot and cam roller arrangement. The cutter and the gathering assembly may be raised and lowered to meet any conditions of operation or may be withdrawn from the water completely for travel from place to place. The entire cutting, gathering, compressing, and storing operation is continuous, leading to great efficiency in removing weeds from a lake. In particular, the compactor consists of a pair of angularly related conveyor belts, one carrying the weeds and one above the weeds having a free end, to compress them and drive off the water content. The cutters may be mechanically or hydraulically driven. Fins may be provided on the cutters to scare away the fish to avoid har vesting fish with the weeds. These ins also create a current which separates the weeds and raises them for good engagement with the lateral conveyors. The cutters may travel across the entire front of the device, or separate sets may be provided in front of each of the lateral conveyors, as desired.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a weed harvesting machine embodying my invention with portions broken away.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail view of one side of the lateral conveyor.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the front of my harvester with portions broken away.

FIG. 4 is a top plan View on a reduced scale.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a detail view of an alternate type of cutter bar and mounting.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional View on line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail view of the underside of the alternate cutter bar of my invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail view of a modied cutter tooth.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view on line 10--10 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 11 is a View showing the dump platform at the beginning of its cycle of operation.

3,286,447 Patented Nov. 22, 1966 FIG. 12 is a view showing the dump platform in dumping position.

FIG. 13 is a schematic drawing of the hydraulic circuitry of the harvester.

FIG. 14 is a schematic drawing of the hydraulic circuit for the cutter bar of FIG. 8.

The harvester of my invention comprises a conventional hull 20 provided with paddle wheels 21 driven by hydraulic motor and gear reducer units 22 (see FIG. 13), pressure being supplied by pumps 23 and 230 (FIG. 13) driven in the conventional manner from engine 24 (FIG. 1).

The engine 24 also drives extensible output shaft 25, 250 which is controlled by a clutch 26 and incorporates universal joints 27, to accommodate changes in the distance and elevation of gear unit 28 from engine 24. Gear unit 28 drives the lateral horizontal conveyors 29, weed cutting means including weed cutting teeth 43 and longitudinal conveyor 30.

Lateral conveyors 29 are driven from gear box 28 by a shaft 31 (FIG. 3) carrying bevel gears 32 which drive bevel gears 33. Each bevel gear 33 is at the top of a respective drive shaft 34 which carries sprockets 35 that mesh with the screen 36 of conveyors 29, and act as spiders to carry support rods 64.

The outer ends of lateral mesh conveyor belts 36 are supported by shafts 62 carrying smooth spiders 63 and support rods 64. As shown in FIG. 10 sprocket 35 rests on lbushing 150, which rests on plate 155. Plate 155 is secured by bolts 151 to bracket 152. Bracket 152 is in turn secured by bolts 153 to main body 154 of the cutter asesmbly. A link chain 39 (see FIG. 3) rides in channel .41 (FIG. 10) of the cutter assembly main body 154 and carries teeth 43 (or 434), FIG. 9) which rest on and travel laterally with respect to fixed teeth 42 extending horizontally from the main body 154 of the cutter assembly. Bushing is supported by plate 155.

The framework for the lateral conveyors as seen in FIG. 3 consists of an upper plate 65, inner plates 66 and 67 and bottom plate 68, braced by vertical member 69. The upper end of shaft 62 is supported on plate 65, in bearings 70.

Shaft 37 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) extends from gear box 28 to gear box 61 (FIG. 2) containing a set of bevel gears which drive sprocket 38 (FIG. 3). Sprocket 38 engages a loop of cutter chain 39 between two idler sprockets 40, to drive the chain. Except where chain 39 is looped around sprocket 38 it runs in a channel 41 which positions it with respect to the fixed cutter teeth 42, so that teeth 43 carried by chain 39 occupy the correct relationship to teeth 42 to cut the weeds.

As shown in FIG. 9 cutter teeth 43 may be replaced by teeth 430 which `are provided with an upwardly bilobed spoon-shaped extension 431 to create an upward current of water as the chain moves. This performs the dual function of protecting iish in the `area and creating upward turbulence in the Water which distributes the weeds for efficient pick up by lateral conveyors 29. Former weed harvester have been objectionable to conservation officials and to the public because of the number of sh which they harvest along :with the weeds. This defect is not present in the device of my invention, partly because the travel of the initial conveyor is lateral rather than Vertical, and partly because of teeth 430.

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 show yan ialternate form of weed cutting means in which the drive is by hydraulic motors 44, driving a bevel gear in cases 45-46, which drives sprocket 47 engaged with chain 39. A similar structure, not shown, drives the other end of the chain. The entire drive unit, consisting of the motor, gears, and sprocket, is mounted on a plate 4S provided with slots 49 so that the plate may be slid laterally. Precise adjustment of the tension of the chain 39 is achieved by turning bolt 51 in bracket 52 attached to plate 48, bolt 51 being threadedly engaged with a bracket 53 4on the main body 54 of the cutter bar, permitting very fine adjustments. The plate is then locked in place by bolts 50.

As shown in FIG. 6, the alternate cutter of FIG. 8 is not mounted around the lower end of conveyor 29 as previously described in connection with the weed cutting means driven by shaft 37, but is mounted on brackets 248 secured to plate 155 of the lateral conveyor assembly 29 for support of the cutter assembly entirely ahead of the lower margin of lateral conveyor 29.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the weed cutting means or cutter bar may be yieldably mounted in front of sealed electric switches 249. Switches 249 are connected in a known manner to a solenoid valve in the hydraulic circuit to motors 44, to shut off the motors upon striking an obstacle.

Between lateral conveyors 29 is a longitudinal conveyor 30 (FIG. 3) comprising a exible screen or mesh belt 55 driven by sprockets 56 (FIG. 5) on a shaft 57 (FIG. 3) which is in turn driven by a sprocket 58 and chain 59 from a sprocket 60 on shaft 31. It may be noted in FIG. 3 that the innermost ends of lateral conveyors 29 overlap the outermost edges of longitudinal conveyor 30. It may also be noted that the innermost ends of lateral conveyors 29 are trained around a cylindrical pulley formed by sprockets 35 and support rods 64, which cylindrical pulley provides a surface having a plurality of openings by virtue of the spacing between rods 64. As the hull 20 moves through the water, it is apparent that water will flow through the mesh of conveyors 29, through the openings between support rods 64, and will therefore backwash the return run of conveyors 29 in the portions overlapping longitudinal conveyor 30. This backwashing serves to remove weeds that tend to stick to lateral conveyors 29 before they move beyond the outer extremities of conveyor 30, and this increases the weed collecting eiciency of the conveying system.

The lower end of conveyor 30 is carried by shaft 71 (FIG. 5) and sprocket 72. The framework consists of side frames 73 (FIG. 3) assist in guiding the weeds up the conveyor and which carry shafts 57 and 71. Sides 73 are spread apart or flared at 74 in the conventional manner. The mesh conveyor belt 55 (FIG. 5) is promands imposed by the volume of weeds on belt 81. A belt tension adjusting means 97 (FIG. 1) is provided for the shaft carrying idler roller 95.

After compression of the weeds between belts 85 and 81 the weeds are discharged to a nal elevating longitudinal conveyor 98 (FIGS. 1 and 5) which is pivoted about shaft 99 and driven by means of a chain 100 driven from triple sprocket 93. Because conveyor 98 is free to pivot at its rearward end, it can accommodate itself to the load of weeds accumulating on the dump platform 101 (FIG. l) as it fills the platform. Its rearward end is supported by springs 250 which balance its weight and permit it to be adjusted as required.

As shown in FIG. l the dump platform 101 carries railings 102 to prevent 'the weeds from spilling. It is supported at the back by a pair of arms 103 which underlie platform 101 and are slotted at 104 to -receive a rod 105 extending laterally of hull 20. Rod 105 is supported on heavy support arms 106. The other end of platform 101 is supported by a pair of legs 107, each of which carries a wheel 108. In the lowered position of the platform wheels 108 rest on flat portions 109 of ramps 110. Hydraulic cylinder 111 is pivoted to a bracket 112 secured to Ithe deck of the hull and to the 'portion of arm 103 which runs the length of platform 101 at 113. Auxiliary hydraulic cylinder 114 is pivoted to a bracket on the deck at 115 and -has a piston rod 116 which bears on a cup 117 secured to platform 101. Upon application of hydraulic pressure simultaneously to cylinders 111 and 114 hyvided with a series 0f weed retaining members 76, consisting of uprights 77 (FIG. 3) and lateral members 78 having bent up ends 79 to engage and retain the weeds dumped on central conveyor 30 by lateral conveyors 29.

The upper end of longitudinal central elevating conveyor 30 overlies a longitudinal belt conveyor 81 (FIGS. l and 5) carried on drive sprocket and roller 82 and idler sprockets and rollers 83. The weeds are guided from the discharge end of conveyor 30 to belt 81 by sidewalls 84 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 5),'which also support the shafts for the driving and idler rollers. The upper surface of belt 81 moves rearwardly with respect to hull 20, from a point closely adjacent to the bow and underneath conveyor 30. Masses of weeds deposited on belt 81 are confined between belt 81 and a short conveyor belt 85 (FIG. 5). Belt 85 is angularly disposed with respect to belt 81, so that as the weeds pass under belt 85 they are progressively compressed. Roller 86 drives belt 85, the power being transmitted to shaft 87 by spur gear 88 (FIG. l) and spur gear 89 which are in turn driven by chain 90 from double sprocket 91.

Sprocket 91 is driven by chain 92 from triple sprocket 93 which is driven by chain 94 which is driven from the engine. The lower idler roller 95 (FIG. 5) on which belt 85 runs, is supported on side plates 96 (FIG. l) which are pivoted about shaft 87 so -that the lower end of belt 85 is free to rise and fall according to the dedraulic cylinder 111 is unable to supply any substantial lifting force to platform 101 because of the very acute angle which it forms with the platform, but it pushes the platform rearwardly, arm 103 sliding over rod 105 in the process. At the same time cylinder 114 supplies a lifting force to the bottom of platform 101 closely adjacent to the pivot point 113 .of cylinder 111. The angle of arm 103 also causes lifting of platform 101 as it slides to the rear on rod 105. When the end of slot 104 reaches rod 105, further backward travel of platform 101 is impossible, but by this time the platform has been substantially lifted by cylinder 114 and slot 104, and in addition wheels 108 have ridden up to the top of 4ramps 110 to the position shown in FIG. 11. The cylinder 111 is Athereupon able to complete the lifting motion about rod 10S as a pivot. As shown in FIG. 12 cylinder 111 may be a compound cylinder having a piston rod element 118 which also serves as a piston and is hollow to receive a further p1ston rod-piston 119 which is the portion which is pivoted at 113 to member 103.

The end of arm 103 is provided with a pivoted bumper 120 having -a resilient pad 121 on its surface to prevent a barge into which -the compressed weeds are being dumped from moving away from hull 20, as shown in FIG. l2. Spring 122 between a bracket on the deck and cylinder 114 holds the cylinder against a stop 123 so that upon lowering a platform 101, the cylinder will be in position to engage cup 117 (FIG. l). Upon lowering the platform the reverse sequence of the events just described -takes place until platform 101 is again in the position shown in FIG. l.

It is highly desirable to provide a mechanism for raising and lowering the transverse conveyors 29 and the center longitudinal conveyor 30, both .to avoid contact with the bottom of the body of water, and to permit the conveyers to be withdrawn from the water for travel from place to place. For this purpose the framework of conveyors 29 and 30 is provided with rails 124 (FIGS. l, 2 and 3) which are curved at their upper ends for fastening at 125 to the top plate 65 of the framework of conveyor 29. As best shown in FIG. 2, the lower end is secured to the lower framework of the lateral conveyors 29 by means including` a bracket 126 secured to hull 20 at pivot point 127. The bracket carries rollers 128 on shafts 129 to guide the conveyor structure. A cable 130 (FIG. 2) is attached at 131 to one of the bars 124 and extends over an idler sheave 132 mounted on pist-on rod 133 of cylinder 134. The end of cable 130 is secured to a spring 135 which anchors it to a bracket 136 on the deck of hull 20. A second cable 137, visible in FIGS. 2 and 4,'

is anchored in the same manner as cable 130 but after passing over double sheave 132 extends over sheave 138 (FIG. 2) and sheave 139 and then extends transversely across the front deck to a unit (not shown) simila-r to sheaves 139 and 138 whereby the cable 137 again changes its direction so that it extends forwardly to a sheave 140 and other mechanism as shown in FIG. 2. Bracket 126 is pivoted at 127 to absorb the 'shock of contact with the bottom -or with concealed sunken objects. Arm 260` on bracket 126 is bored to loosely receive bolt 261. Spring 262 is conrined between nut 263 and arm 260 -to resiliently support the conveyors and cutters. Bolt 261 is pivoted to hull at 264.

In operation, conveyors 29 and 30 are raised and lowered with respect to hull 20 by means of the mechanism just described. Actuation of cylinder 134 by appli-cation of pressure to the left end of the cylinder, as seen in FIG. 2, causes piston rod 133 to move to the right, bearing sheave 13-2. Cables 130 and 137 are anchored at 136, subject only to the resilience of their respective springs 135,- and consequently movement of sheave 132 to the right causes the other end of each cable to lmove upwardly and to the right, toward their respective sheaves 140, carrying with them anchorage points 131 and bars 124, upon which conveyors 29 and 30 and cutter bar body 154 are supported. Bars 124 are guided by rollers 138. When the center of gravity of the structure carried by bars 124 passes to the right side of a vertical li-ne through pivot 127 on supporting bracket 126, arm 260 on bracket 126 is no longer urged upwardly against spring 262, but moves downwardly to rest upon the bracket which supports pivot 264, so that the weight of the conveyors and cutter is supported rmly rather than resiliently while this structure is in its raised position. Lowering of the conveyors and cutter structure is accomplished by the reverse of this procedure. Upon release `of pressure in cylinder 134, piston rod 133 and sheave 132 move to the left, (FIGS. l and 2) under the influence of the weight of the conveyor `and cutter structure applied through anchorages 131 and cables 130 and 137. Thus the conveyor and cutter bar may be lowered from -the resting position in which arm 260` rests on the bracket containing pivo-t 264 to a depth determined by the length of bar 124 and the length of piston rod 133 and cylinder 134. As the center of -gravity of the conveyor and cutter bar assembly passes to the left of a vertical line through pivot 127, arm 260 will again rise against the bias of spring 262, so that the precise position of the cutter bar 154 may vary slightly (within the limits of the compressability of spring 262) and consequently may yield slightly upon encountering resistance to its forward progress.

As shown in FIG. 13 the hydraulic system consists of three hydraulic pumps 23, 230, and 231. Pumps 23 and 230 take oil from sump 232 by a common oil line 233 and supply it by separate pressure -lines 234 and 235 to valves 236 and 237 which are reversing valves for the respective port land starboard paddle wheel drive motors 22. Return of the oil to sump 232 is by line 238 which also receives oil from other parts of the hydraulic system. Pump 231 also receives oil from line 233 and sump 232 and supplies pressure through valve 239 to operate double-acting hydraulic cylinder 134 to raise and lower the lateral conveyors 29 and the longitudinal conveyor 30. Return oil is carried by line 240 to line 238 and sent back to sump 232. Pump 231 also supplies through valve 241 to hydraulic cylinders 111 and 114 which are connected to act simultaneously to dump platform 101. On the return stroke, cylinder 111 is doubleacting, but cylinder 114 is a single-acting cylinder. As platform 101 settles on the piston rod 116 of 114 the 6 hydraulic uid is forced back through line 242 and valve 241 to return line 238. FIG. 14 shows schematically the additional hydraulic circuit for the purpose of operating the alternate cutter shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, which is run by hydraulic motors rather than by shaft 37. Engine 24 runs pump 243 which supplies pressure uid to valve 244. Motors 44 are connected in parallel to rotate whenever valve 244 is open. The return hydraulic iluid flows through lines 245 and 246, through the return side of valve 244, and thence to sump 232. Solenoid valves (not shown) may -be added to close line 247 'upon actuation of switches 249 (FIG. 6), and may be of a type which by-pass iuid to return line 246 when closed, to release the pressure. Switch 249 may also be connected to a solenoid which acts on valves 236 and 237 to reverse paddle wheel motors 22. The hull will thus immediately begin backing away from the obstruction. Not only does this prevent mechanical damage but it helps to avoid piling up of weed on the moving parts.

I claim:

1. An underwater weed harvester comprising a hull, a set of guide rollers at the front end of said hull, a harvester supporting bar extending downwardly and forwardly between said guide rollers, harvesting means supported on said supporting bar adjustable means including exible link means connected to said support bar for raising and lowering said ba-r in the plane of its inclination, said harvesting means including portions extending below the surface of the body of water on which said hull `rests in the lowered position, said flexible link means positively controlling downward and forward movement of said support bar and permitting free upward and backward movement of said support bar, whereby said guide bar and said harvesting means may yield upwardly and backwardly upon striking an underwater object.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising support means for said rollers including a generally lateral pivot about which said rollers, said support bar, and said harvesting means are oscillatable, and resilient means tending to resist oscillation of said rollers, said support bar and said harvesting means about said pivot.

3. The device of claim 1 in which the center of gravity of said support bar and said harvesting means is forward of said pivot in the direction of travel of said hull when said support Ibar is in its forward and downward position, said center of gravity being behind said pivot when said support bar is in -its up and back position, whereby raising said support ba-r causes it to rock backwardly about said pivot, and a support for said support bar adapted to limit said backward movement when raised.

4. In a machine for harvesting underwater plants, including a hull and means for propelling the hull; a conveying structure pivotally secured to the front end of the hull comprising: a pair of open Amesh lateral conveyors adapted to be at least partially submerged beneath the water surface and when so submerged to move in a direction to convey material toward the center of the hull, an inclined conveyor disposed rearwardly of the lateral conveyors in a position to receive material conveyed by the lateral conveyors and to convey the same upwardly toward the hull, said lateral conveyors having their innermost ends disposed inwardly of the outer edges of the inclined conveyor whereby water passing through the open mesh of the lateral conveyors will backwash the return surface of said conveyors as the hull moves through the water to -dislodge material clinging to said return surfaces and to cause such material to fall upon the inclined conveyor.

5. In a machine for harvesting underwater plants including a hull and means for propelling the hull, a cut- -ting and conveying structure pivotally secured to the front end of the hull comprising: a pair of open mesh lateral conveyors adapted to be at least partially submerged beneath the water surface and when so submerged to move in a direction to convey material toward the center of the hull, a cutter disposed adjacent the lower edges of said lateral conveyors, an inclined conveyor disposed rearwardly of the lateral conveyors in a position to receive material conveyed by the lateral conveyors and to convey the same upwardly toward the hull, said lateral conveyors having their innermost ends disposed inwardly of the outer edges of the inclined conveyor whereby water passing through the open mesh of the lateral conveyors will backwash the return surface 0f said c-onveyors as the hull moves through the water to dislodge material clinging to said return surfaces and to cause such material to fall upon the inclined conveyor.

6. In a machine for harvesting underwater plants including a hull and means for propelling the hull, a conveying structure pivotally secured to the fr-ont end of the hull comprising: a frame resiliently secured to said hull and adapted to yield upwardly upon striking an underwater object, a pair of open mesh lateral conveyors ca rried by said frame and adapted to be at least partially submerged beneath the water surface and when so submerged to move in a direction to convey material toward the center of the hull, an inclined conveyor carried by said frame and disposed rearwardly of the lateral conveyors in a position to receive material conveyed by the References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,344,624 6/1920 Ellis 56-10 1,344,626 6/1920 Ellis 56-9 1,790,380 1/1931 Hughes et al. 298-12 2,510,245 6/1950 Munter 56-23 2,908,126 10/1959 Dyrdahl 56-1 2,948,099 8/1960 Johnson 56-25 3,043,079 7/1962 Aston 56-290 ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

CARL W. ROBINSON, ANTONIO F. GUIDA,

Examiners. I. O. BOLT, Assistant Examiner. 

4. IN A MACHINE FOR HARVESTING UNDERWATER, PLANTS, INCLUDING A HULL AND MEANS FOR PROPELLING THE HULL; A CONVEYING STRUCTURE PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THE FRONT END OF THE HULL COMPRISING: A PAIR OF OPEN MESH LATERAL CONVEYORS ADAPTED TO BE AT LEAST PARTIALLY SUBMERGED BENEATH THE WATER SURFACE AND WHEN SO SUBMERGED TO MOVE IN A DIRECTION TO CONVEY MATERIAL TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE HULL, AN INCLINED CONVEYOR DISPOSED REARWARDLY OF THE LATERAL CONVEYORS IN A POSITION TO RECEIVE MATERIAL CONVEYED BY THE LATERAL CONVEYORS AND TO CONVEY THE SAME UPWARDLY TOWARD THE HULL, SAID LATERAL CONVEYORS HAVING THEIR INNERMOST ENDS DISPOSED INWARDLY OF THE OUTER EDGES OF THE INCLINED CONVEYOR WHEREBY WATER PASSING THROUGH THE OPEN MESH OF THE LATERAL CONVEYORS WILL BACKWASH THE RETURN SURFACE OF SAID CONVEYORS AS THE HULL MOVES THROUGH THE WATER TO DISLODGE MATERIAL CLINGING TO SAID RETURN SURFACES AND TO CAUSE SUCH MATERIAL TO FALL UPON THE INCLINED CONVEYOR. 